12 Set works Elgar s Symphony No. 1 or

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1 12 Set works Elgar s Symphony No. 1 or Shostakovich s Symphony No. 5 Learning objectives: to understand how to study a work in sufficient detail for A2 Level to acquire detailed knowledge of the chosen work and its background to consider the types of question which may be asked and how to approach them. Methods of study The detailed study of a set work introduced in Unit 1 is developed further in Unit 4. From the 2013 examination the set work is a complete 20th-century symphony: either Symphony No. 1 in Ab major by Elgar or Symphony No. 5 in D minor by Shostakovich. Both are very interesting works to study, but you will find that writers do not always agree about the aims and intentions of the composers. The initial stage is to understand what happens in the symphony. Afterwards, it is possible to learn more about the background and context. By the end of the course you should know your chosen work so thoroughly that you can form your own views from a firm basis of fact. First impressions Depending on your previous experience of listening to music and attending concerts, you may prefer to listen to the whole work at once or take one movement at a time. Following the score may be helpful but it is not essential at first, especially if you are not well practised in following a complex orchestral score. Note down any strong impressions and look at them again when you know the work better to see if they can be justified. Getting to know the music Concentrate on one movement at a time, listen to it repeatedly and become familiar with the written notation. You should reach the stage where you can continue mentally if the recording is stopped at any point, and you can hear the sound on opening any page of the score. Ensure that you understand the names of instruments, tempo indications and technical instructions in the score. Both scores follow common practice in having performance directions in Italian. You will find some help in understanding the score at the end of each analysis. Identify the main themes and sections of each movement, noting down the key if it is easy to recognise. Draw a plan of the movement to see an overview of its structure. Both symphonies are based on a traditional four-movement plan with a scherzo as the second movement and a slow movement third. Revise the classical pattern by looking back at Symphony No. 1 by Beethoven or another of the period. It is to be expected that forms will be reinterpreted by 20th-century composers, and it is interesting to discover where the music departs from expectations. Consider the use and importance of the musical elements in each movement: melody; harmony; rhythm and tempo; tonality and modulation; orchestration. In each case, select passages which demonstrate typical features of the composer s style. You will not need to memorise quotations as you will be able to use an unmarked score in the examination. The music in context Once the set work is familiar, look at its historical position and context. The circumstances of Elgar in England and Shostakovich in Russia could 1

2 Chapter 12 Set works not be more different, but the societies in which they lived had a profound effect on their music. Shostakovich completed his first symphony as a student and wrote 15 symphonies in all; Elgar did not produce his first symphony until the age of 51 and only completed one further symphony. A third was left as sketches, which have now been realised into a complete symphony by the composer Anthony Payne. You should be aware of: the musical activities, interests and experience of the composer the work s place in the composer s life earlier works by other composers that may have influenced the symphony the circumstances of its composition and first performance reactions to it at the time of writing and in subsequent years any light which is thrown on the work by later events. Interpretation and recordings Listen to more than one performance of the symphony if possible and note the date when each was recorded. Traditions of performance change over time and styles may also change according to the orchestra playing and the personal taste of the conductor. Different interpretations provide interesting material for discussion on which view best reveals the character of the music. Elgar conducted a recording of Symphony No. 1 in 1931 and this is still available. The conductor Sir Adrian Boult worked closely with the composer and his recording of 1950 has always been highly regarded. There is a large number of recent recordings, especially since the beginning of the 21st century. The first performance of Symphony No. 5 by Shostakovich was conducted by a young and unknown conductor, Yevgeny Mravinsky. Shostakovich was delighted with his interpretation and composer and conductor worked together on the first performances of five later symphonies. A recording made by Mravinsky is still available, and the recording by the composer s son, Maxim Shostakovich, also has considerable authority. Tempi vary particularly in the finale, which lasts 12 minutes in Maxim Shostakovich s version, and less than nine minutes in the version by Leonard Bernstein. If possible, attend a live performance of the symphony you are studying. Leave the score at home and enjoy the visual experience as well as the sound. By the 20th century, the symphony had become a form in which composers were expected to make their most significant and universal statements. A live performance will convey, better than any recording, the total experience that the composer intended to present. Elgar Symphony No. 1 in Ab major Background Edward Elgar ( ), holds a vital place in the history of English music. Although music was highly regarded and widely practised in England in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the most important figures nationally were English by adoption rather than by birth. After Purcell ( ) it is hard to discover a truly English composer whose works were recognised at home and abroad until Elgar appeared on the scene. His most significant works are two symphonies, the oratorio The Dream of Gerontius, concertos for violin and for cello, and the orchestral Variations on an 145

3 A2 Unit 4 Music in context Original Theme (Enigma). Even before the composition of Symphony No. 1 he had received a knighthood, as well as honorary degrees from several universities and a specially created professorship in Birmingham. He served as Master of the King s Music from 1924 until his death. These achievements are even more remarkable because Elgar was selftaught. His only formal tuition was a short course of violin lessons, and he owed his mastery of composition to his own studies and practical experience as an orchestral player. Elgar s father was a music seller and piano tuner in the city of Worcester, and the young Elgar made good use of the scores in the family shop, which he would borrow and take out into the fields to study. He improvised on the piano from an early age, took up the violin when he was 12 and later learned the bassoon. Elgar worked as a violin teacher and orchestral violinist, often playing for the Three Choirs Festival. Elgar often had an uneasy relationship with the musical establishment and was sensitive about his unorthodox musical training. In fact, his skills as a composer and orchestrator were of the highest order. He made several extended visits to Germany to hear music by Brahms, Schumann and Wagner, and two of the strongest advocates of his music were German. His interests at the publishing firm of Novello & Co. were represented by A. J. Jaeger, who became a close friend and adviser; the conductor Hans Richter championed Elgar s works during his appointment to the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester. Most of the Elgar s orchestral works were written between 1899 and 1911, with the Cello Concerto following in In 1920 his wife Alice died and without her devoted support Elgar found it difficult to compose with any enthusiasm. He became interested in the new field of sound recording, and conducted a number of sessions, including the famous recording of the Violin Concerto with the 16-year-old Yehudi Menuhin as soloist. Elgar died in 1934 at the age of 76. His international success inspired a younger generation of British composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst, and helped to re-establish British music as a force on the international stage. Symphony No.1 The idea of writing a symphony was in Elgar s mind long before Symphony No. 1 was completed. In a letter of 1901, he mentioned the symphony I am trying to write, promising to dedicate it to Hans Richter, whose conducting of the Enigma Variations and Cockaigne Overture had done much to establish Elgar s reputation. There were also rumours of a new symphony for the Covent Garden Elgar Festival in 1903 and for the Leeds Festival in 1904, where its place was filled by the new overture In the South. In the summer of 1907 his wife s letters mention that Elgar had written a great beautiful tune and a lovely river piece. You could hear the wind in the rushes by the water. These became the motto theme of the symphony and the trio section of the second movement. In October and November he sketched part of a scherzo and slow movement for string quartet. These sketches became the basis of the second and third movements of the symphony. The Elgar family spent the winter months from December to May in Rome, and there the first movement was completed. At home, later in 1908, work proceeded quickly. The scherzo was completed on 5 August, the slow movement on 23 August, and the symphony was finished by 25 September. As had been promised, the work was dedicated to Hans Richter. Rehearsals with the Hallé 146

4 Chapter 12 Set works: Elgar Symphony No. 1 Orchestra began on 23 November and the triumphant first performance took place in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester on 3 December The audience broke into enthusiastic applause after the slow movement, forcing Richter to bring Elgar to the stage. At the end of the work the orchestra rose and cheered the composer. The first performance in London four days later was given a standing ovation by a capacity audience. The success of the work can be measured by the fact that during 1909 it received 82 performances all over the world, including in America, Australia and Russia. The plan of the symphony Elgar had a great admiration for the traditional symphony. In his series of lectures given in as Professor of Music at Birmingham University he chose only two works for detailed analysis: Mozart s Symphony No. 40 and Brahms Symphony No. 3. It is no surprise that he employed the familiar four-movement pattern for Symphony No. 1, with a scherzo and a slow movement enclosed by two fast movements. The forms within these movements are also based on traditional structures, but his free use of tonality goes far beyond his models and is often hard to explain, although it remains completely satisfying. Even the key of the symphony is a matter for discussion, as it begins and ends with a motto theme in Ab major, but uses D minor as the main key of its first and last movements. The central movements are in F# minor and D major, strengthening the relationship to D minor. The symphony has many internal links between movements. The second and third share material in a very surprising way, given their different characters, and there are many shadowy hints of the motto theme apart from its main appearances in the first and last movements. Examiner s tip This movement is described in order of its events. You may need this style for a question asking for a programme note or an account of part of the symphony. Other writing styles are demonstrated later in the analysis. First movement Introduction The opening paragraph to fig. 5 announces the motto theme that haunts the whole symphony, Alice Elgar s great beautiful tune. Melody and bass are entirely diatonic in the key of Ab major, a complete contrast to the chromaticism to come. The music is given a gentle forward impetus by the steady tread of the bass and by melody notes tied over the bar line, especially when they are harmonic suspensions (e.g. the third beat of bar 3). The first statement of the motto theme is essentially in two parts, with two passing phrases from the horns the only addition. Key terms Diatonic: music which remains within the prevailing key. Chromatic: music which includes notes or chords from outside the prevailing key for extra colour. Andante. Nobilmente e semplice p dolce p The repetition of this theme at fig. 3 shows Elgar s orchestration at its most glowing, with long string lines reinforced momentarily by brass, percussion and harps. The melody is elongated as it fades towards fig. 5, disappearing into the background rather than coming to a conclusion. 147

5 A2 Unit 4 Music in context Exposition The atmosphere changes immediately at the beginning of the Allegro, moving to the minor mode and into short, restless phrases for the first subject. The key is generally considered to be D minor here, far removed from Ab major, and this contributes to the contrast at this point. Allegro p appassionato f mf cresc. Melody and bass often suggest contradictory keys and the tonal centre seems to change from bar to bar. After a climbing link at fig. 7 the first subject is repeated a fifth lower in woodwind and horns at fig. 8. Hidden in this section is a violin countermelody which becomes an important feature of the development section. It begins nine bars after fig. 8. There is a change of pace at the transition (fig. 9) as the time signature changes to 6/4 and the music calms. Elgar will make considerable use of the fleeting motifs a, b and c shown below. a f dim. b p espress. c Key terms Transition or bridge passage: a passage in the exposition of a sonata form movement during which the key of the first subject changes to prepare for the second subject. At fig. 12 the second subject appears a calm melody in 2/2 time and F major, although the accompanying parts are still in 6/4. The emergence of the cellos with a repeat of this melody is a recognisable touch of Elgar. After a touching move to Db major nine bars before fig. 14, the concluding part of the exposition calls on many previous ideas including a at fig. 14, the first subject eight bars later and again six bars after fig. 16, and c at fig. 17, transformed from a delicate clarinet comment into a powerful statement for horns and trumpet. Development The motto theme makes its presence felt briefly at fig. 18, played by muted horns in the key of C major. From here to fig. 32 the development flits from one idea to another, with many delicate moments but also a grand and imposing climax. The main events are: development of the countermelody quoted above in a gentle string arrangement beginning at fig. 19 use of a from fig. 21, alternating with a quaver figure which arises from the accompaniment to the second subject motif b returning at fig. 23 and passed from one instrument to another in quick succession. Motif c also appears briefly before fig. 24. at fig. 24 a restless new idea in 2/2 time, derived distantly from the first subject. This is used in sequence to build a climax based on a leading up to fig

6 Chapter 12 Set works: Elgar Symphony No. 1 a climax, crowned by the return of the second subject in B minor at fig. 28. This is echoed in imitation throughout the orchestra at fig. 29 the return of the restless idea from fig. 24, followed by a mysterious section combining fragments of many earlier motifs. The motto theme is suggested in the key of D major shortly before fig. 31, and the passage leading to the recapitulation at fig. 32 is based on the countermelody, expressed in two different rhythms. Recapitulation At fig. 32 the first subject returns in the original key, this time with the countermelody in the bass immediately. At the repeat, the key signature changes to Ab and this remains throughout the movement, although the key does not feel settled until the second subject appears at fig. 38. The recapitulation follows the same course as the exposition, but with some delicate adjustments such as the turn to E major at fig. 40. After the quiet interlude of the second subject the music again builds to a climax, with the high point at fig. parallel to fig. 17. This material is extended to fig. 48, where the coda begins. Coda Once again, an important structural point is marked by the return of the motto theme. It is surprisingly scored for only the back desks of strings: Elgar knew from his long experience of orchestral playing that the effect is very different from entrusting this important theme to the front-desk players. At first the motto continues in tandem with the countermelody transformed into 6/4 time, but gradually the motto overpowers this idea and 2/2 time prevails at fig. 51. Unexpectedly, the restless and mysterious section which concluded the development section returns at fig. 52. There are reminders of the motto at fig. 54, showing its versatility by combining with the second subject s accompaniment. Motif c has the last word at fig. 55 and this passage highlights the unresolved key conflicts in the movement: for three bars it appears to be in A minor but it comes to rest on an Ab major chord. Key terms Coda: An optional tail-piece at the end of a movement. It may contain further development of the themes, and resolves any remaining conflict of key. Second movement Form In style this is a scherzo a light and playful movement which grew out of the minuet and trio in the classical symphony. The contrasting section is still known as a trio although it does not always use a reduced orchestration. The main sections are: Beginning to fig. 66 Scherzo in F# minor using four main ideas: racing semiquavers in a subdued tone, rhythmic semiquavers (fig. 57), a march tune in C# minor (fig 59) and a strong falling phrase (fig. 63). These are interlocked in the pattern ABCBDA Fig. 66 to 71 Trio in Bb major using two ideas: a flute melody in sixths (fig. 66) and a clarinet theme in thirds in G minor (6 bars after fig. 68). These alternate, and the final appearance of the clarinet melody overlaps into the next section. Fig. 71 to 77 Scherzo in F# minor, rewritten and abbreviated from 129 bars to 77. Fig 77 to 82 Trio in Bb major based on the same two themes but rewritten. Fig. 82 to end Coda, beginning with a combination of the scherzo material in the strings and the second trio theme in the clarinets. The first trio theme appears at fig. 85, and the opening scherzo material is successively augmented to prepare for its use in the slow movement. 149

7 A2 Unit 4 Music in context This movement is described according to the musical elements indicated in the specification. Some questions may ask for one or more of these elements to be discussed and you should be able to describe each movement under these headings. Key terms Examiner s tip Pedal: a bass note which begins as part of a chord but is sustained while the harmony changes above it. Pedals are found on the first note (tonic) or fifth note (dominant) of the scale. Harmony The rate of harmonic change varies considerably during this movement. The opening semiquavers occur over a repeated F#, which anchors the harmony for the first 24 bars. The march theme at fig. 59 changes chord every crotchet to give it forward momentum. Long-sustained harmonies support the calmer atmosphere of the trio, which depends at first on an alternation of root position and first inversion chords over a Bb in the bass, and the second theme of the trio is played over a long dominant pedal in G minor. Instrumentation This movement creates an impression of constantly changing sounds. The full orchestra is used for the march theme, but there are moments of great delicacy such as the opening of the trio. Details such as the pizzicato violas, the murmuring harp part and the silvery sound of a solo violin show the acuteness of Elgar s ear for orchestral effects. He once instructed an orchestra to play it like something you heard down by the river, and this is one example of many where his love of the countryside can be sensed in an otherwise non-descriptive work. It is interesting to compare his scoring of repeated melodies: the march tune appears in a much more aggressive form at fig. 73, where the brass play a vital role. Harps can also be used to add to the excitement, as in the bar before fig. 73. Melody The opening semiquavers in the first violins appear at first to be a frantic and aimless scurrying, and it is startling to find the very same notes later transformed into the theme of the slow movement. Allegro molto pp simile This transformation can be observed step by step in the coda. At fig. 84 the theme has been slowed to triplet quavers, four bars before fig. 87 it appears in simple quavers in the clarinet, and at fig. 87 the rhythm has been further augmented to crotchets. These changes can all be found in the sketch for string quartet, which was the basis of the second and third movements. Other themes in this movement change less and have a strongly rhythmic character. The march theme (fig. 59) retains its character but is subtly varied on each new appearance, altering the opening interval to an octave, or changing the rhythm of the second bar. The trio themes are more conjunct and cover a smaller range than their more energetic counterparts in the scherzo. Rhythm and metre The scherzo has an unusual 1/2 time signature, indicating one minim beat in a bar. The sense of pulse is not strong at the beginning, nor in parts of the trio, but elsewhere the effect of a relentless march is very evident. The fascinating changes of rhythm in the coda have been discussed in the melody section. 150

8 Chapter 12 Set works: Elgar Symphony No. 1 Texture Textures are varied and often complex. It is interesting to study fig. 57, where the apparent melody is shared between first and second violins, the passing of the march tune to different parts of the orchestra from fig. 59, and the way in which a powerful version of the trio dissolves into gentleness again within five bars of fig. 77. Elgar s contrapuntal skill allows him to perform some surprising feats, such as the combination of the scherzo and trio material at fig. 71. Tonality It is much easier to identify the tonality in this movement than in the preceding one, but there are still some surprising features. At the opening the key of F# minor is clearly established, yet the semiquaver theme taken alone can be interpreted in several different ways, and will eventually be used unchanged as a diatonic theme in D major. Key relationships within sections are generally conventional, but the choice of Bb major for the trio after a scherzo in F# minor adds to its sense of remoteness. Elgar s transitions repay study, and it would be valuable to look at two examples here the eight bars leading to fig. 66, and the subtle move from F# minor to D major at the end of the movement. The sketches make the key change in a different way, but in its final form the transition mirrors the magical move into the ninth of the Enigma Variations, known as Nimrod and inspired by his friend A. J. Jaeger. In both cases the key moves down by a third, linked by a sustained note which becomes the mediant of the new key. Key terms Pulse: the regular beat of a piece of music. It should be distinguished from metre (the arrangement of the pulses, such as in patterns of three or four beats to a bar) and rhythm (the different patterns in each bar). Contrapuntal: written in counterpoint (polyphony). The music is constructed by weaving melodies together rather than by thinking in chords. Mediant: The technical name for the third note above the tonic in a scale. The third note below the tonic is known as the submediant. Syncopation: a rhythm which stresses a beat that would normally be weak. Third movement The slow movement follows the scherzo without a break and is the emotional heart of the symphony. The first 18 bars are found in the string quartet sketch of 1907 and Elgar made few amendments other than its realisation for full orchestra. The key of D major is profoundly satisfying after the predominance of the minor mode in the first two movements and the orchestration here is typically rich and detailed. The overall plan is of a short sonata form with a central interlude rather than a development section. The coda moves to deeper serenity by adding at fig. 104 a melody sketched by Elgar in The first subject (beginning to two bars before fig. 94) takes the notes of the scherzo s opening semiquavers and reshapes them twice. At first they appear as a deeply felt string melody; three bars after fig. 93 they are used in even semiquavers as a countermelody for second violins and violas with woodwind doubling. Compare this melody to the scherzo theme quoted above. Adagio pp pp cantabile pp 3 pp cresc. sonore 3 cresc. largamente mf cresc. f The fourth bar has been transposed down a semitone, but in the repeat the melody reaches the high A of the original. The transition (two bars before fig. 94 to fig. 96) turns darker and features falling woodwind phrases and a gently syncopated string accompaniment. 151

9 A2 Unit 4 Music in context Key terms Diminished: a rhythm is diminished when it is written in halved note values and therefore played at twice the former speed. If the note values are doubled and the rhythm is said to be augmented and is played at half speed. Lento The second subject at fig. 96 is a duet between violins and violas, with equally important lines. The roles are exchanged in the repeat at fig. 97 and the prevailing key is the expected dominant, A major, adding to the sense of stability. The central interlude begins at fig. 98 and is based on the transition. It features the solo voices of clarinet, violin, bass clarinet and bassoon. At fig. 100 the opening returns in a revised recapitulation. The melody first heard at fig. 93 is now in A major and the second subject begins in C# major. The return of the tonic key at fig. 104 introduces one of Elgar s most serene melodies, first found in a sketch dated This theme, together with some reminders of the central interlude, brings the movement to a close. Fourth movement x The finale has the task of reconciling the two key centres, D and Ab, which have predominated at different times during the work. The outline of the structure is: introduction leading to the Allegro after fig. 11 exposition (from the Allegro to fig. 120) with the second subject at fig. 114 return of the first subject (fig. 120 to 122) in the tonic key. This unexpected return has led some commentators to describe this movement as a sonata rondo instead of simple sonata form development (fig. 122 to 134) using the march theme, elements of the second subject and (from fig. 129) the motto theme recapitulation (fig. 134 to 146) with the second subject at fig. 137 coda (fig. 146 to the end), where the motto theme returns unopposed. The introduction indicates the key of D minor at the beginning but quickly moves on. There are suggestions of the motto theme in Bb major, Ab major and E major (partly written as Fb major), as if it is still searching for its home. A motif from the first movement can be found in bar 2 and again, diminished, at fig. 110, but the most significant ideas will be the march-like phrase x which begins in the bassoons three bars before fig. 108, and the rising clarinet idea y five bars later. y Key terms Stringendo: getting gradually faster. Cantabile: in a singing style. Sequence: repetition of a melodic or harmonic idea one note higher or lower. The first and second subjects are easily identifiable later in the movement by their rhythms. The first subject acts as a driving force at its first appearance, and also four bars before fig This is mirrored in the recapitulation and it also lies behind passages in the development at fig. 124 and five bars after fig The second subject is developed between fig. 127 and fig. 129 and creates the final stringendo at fig Although these ideas help to establish the structure of the movement, the use made of x and y is more interesting and varied. Motif x returns at fig. 118 and in a short time is built up from a quiet staccato comment into a commanding proclamation by the whole orchestra. It is the first material of the development section, used in counterpoint and sometimes inverted, and it later provides a steadying contrast to the syncopated rhythms derived from the first subject. Less obviously, it becomes a cantabile melody at fig. 130 with a flowing harp accompaniment softening its earlier ferocity. Motif y also undergoes some surprising transformations. It appears in the transition section at fig. 113, now marked con passione and developing in an intensifying sequence. 152

10 Chapter 12 Set works: Elgar Symphony No. 1 In the recapitulation the idea is heard in augmentation at fig. 143 and in diminution four bars after fig. 1, helping to prepare the long-expected moment when the motto theme returns for the last time. The themes in this movement also have subtle relationships, so that the triplet idea ringing through the development three bars after fig. 124 refers both to motif y and to the second subject, and motif x at fig. 130 calls to mind the motto theme. As might be expected, Elgar s tonal relationships in this movement are formed by instinct more than by academic tradition. The first subject implies D minor but the second is constantly shifting. It passes through the expected key of F major, but only as part of a sequence of modulations. The recapitulation begins in Eb minor, a semitone above the D minor of the exposition, and the second subject returns a major third below its first appearance. It is the F minor of the march theme at fig. 141 that paves the way for Ab major to return, but not before the march has passed through a new key every four bars up to fig The final pages are a fascinating study in Elgar s use of the full orchestra to create a triumphant effect. The motto theme originally fell to its final cadence, but the composer prefers to end with the uplifting shape of its first phrase. These pages undoubtedly embody Elgar s description of the symphony as expressing a wide experience of human life with a great charity and a massive hope in the future. Understanding the score The score is printed with the names of instruments and musical terms in Italian, as is traditional. You should find it easy to look up any terms in the score, although the description Nobilmente (nobly) is particularly characteristic of Elgar. Take care over the following points, which often cause confusion: Most instrument names are similar to their English translations but corno means French horn (not cornet) and tromba means trumpet (not trombone). The percussion instruments are kettle drums ( timpani), bass drum (gran cassa), snare drum (tamburo piccolo) and cymbals (piatti). The third flute player sometimes changes to piccolo, which sounds an octave higher than written. Violas use the alto clef, with middle C on the middle line of the stave. Bassoons and cellos may move into the tenor clef when playing in high register, for example where the first bassoon begins on a middle C in bar 3 of the first movement. Transposing instruments sound at a different pitch from their written notes. In this score, clarinets and trumpets sound a tone lower; cor anglais and French horns sound a perfect fifth lower. Remember that the name of the instrument (e.g. trumpet in Bb) tells you what happens when the player reads the note C. Contrabassoon, tuba and double basses sound an octave lower than written, and bass clarinet a ninth lower. Did you know? Elgar was fortunate that the first performance of this work was given by his trusted friend Hans Richter. The Hallé Orchestra was familiar with his style and he was a welcome visitor to rehearsals. The symphony was long anticipated by the performers and the audience and it fulfilled their expectations admirably. Because this symphony follows the tradition of Beethoven and Brahms, the Manchester audience was well prepared for its structure and style. The orchestra too knew that the composer had a remarkable understanding of orchestral technique and would give them every opportunity to demonstrate their versatility. It is also notable that Elgar s publishers had sufficient confidence in the work to issue a miniature score before the first performance. Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5 in D minor Background Dmitri Shostakovich ( ) lived through a turbulent period in Russian history and his life and work were overshadowed by revolution, war, terror and dictatorship. In 1905, the year before his birth in the city of St Petersburg, hundreds of protestors were killed when Cossacks opened fire on a crowd attempting to present a petition to the Tsar. Wartime 153

11 A2 Unit 4 Music in context 154 shortages and the Revolution in 1917 made life difficult for the family. His exceptional promise as a pianist and composer won him a place at the Petrograd Conservatory in 1919 at the age of 13. The events of this period were commemorated by Shostakovich in three later symphonies: Symphony No. 2 (To October) was commissioned for the tenth anniversary of the Revolution, Symphony No. 11 (The Year 1905) was completed in 1957, and Symphony No. 12 (The Year 1917) in The 1920s were a period of change and experiment, both politically and in the arts and Shostakovich was able to follow the latest developments in painting, theatre and music. He composed his first symphony as a graduation exercise, and the authorities were sufficiently impressed to pay for its first performance in May The audience was enthusiastic and even critical commentators noted the promise of this 19-year-old composer. Physically, life was difficult throughout this period. The Conservatory was often unheated, food was scarce and unreliable public transport forced him to walk long distances to attend classes. The second and third symphonies followed closely on the first in 1927 and Both are single-movement works with choral finales on a political theme, but they included some daring experiments. Symphony No. 2 begins with an atonal canon building up gradually over a five-minute span. Symphony No. 3 (The First of May) was performed on the anniversary of Lenin s death in The 1930s were a time of crisis in Shostakovich s life. At first, his development continued with the success of the satirical opera The Nose (1930) and the dark drama Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, which opened in He began a fourth symphony and had completed two movements by January Throughout this time the power of Joseph Stalin had been increasing. The drive to use all methods to further the Soviet ideology resulted in intense political vetting of literature, art and music. Composers were increasingly required to choose subjects which glorified the working people and to avoid any unnecessary complexity or formalism. Artists and academics who did not conform were arrested and exiled, sent to labour camps or executed. Lady Macbeth had received nearly two hundred performances and was an international success when Stalin attended a performance on 26 January Two days later Shostakovich was denounced in a savage newspaper article entitled Muddle Instead of Music. From that time onwards the composer lived in fear of arrest and kept a suitcase packed in the hall in case he was taken without warning. He completed the fourth symphony but political pressure caused the cancellation of a planned performance, and it was withheld until The years in the USSR are sometimes described as The Great Terror, when 1.3 million people were arrested for crimes against the state, and many were shot. In this climate of fear, Shostakovich began a new symphony, his fifth, aware that not only his reputation but his life depended on its reception. In the event, the first performance on 21 November 1937 was a great success. Many of the audience were in tears during the slow movement, and the standing ovation at the end was so enthusiastic that Shostakovich feared it would be interpreted as a protest against the authorities. This success was not the end of the composer s troubles. During the Second World War, Leningrad suffered an horrific siege lasting 872 days, in which over a million inhabitants died of cold, disease and starvation. Shostakovich was evacuated from the city, taking with him the partially completed Symphony No. 7, which commemorates the siege. In 1948, he was again publicly denounced, in company with other prominent composers such as Prokofiev and Khachaturian. His works were banned and he was dismissed

12 Chapter 12 Set works: Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 in D minor from professorships in Moscow and Leningrad, surviving by writing film music to support his family. Following the death of Stalin in 1953, the political climate began to change and he was at last allowed to travel more freely. In 1956, Shostakovich was honoured in Rome, Paris, Oxford and London, and in 1962 he spent a month in Britain to attend a celebration of his works at the Edinburgh Festival. He continued to compose to the last, completing a viola sonata a month before his death in August Symphony No. 5 In writing Symphony No. 5, Shostakovich had to steer a difficult course between the requirements of his political masters and his integrity as a composer. He was very reluctant to speak about his music, fearful that any comment would place him in political danger. When the Composers Union required a presentation on Symphony No. 5 in December 1937 in order to vet it, the analysis was provided by the conductor Mravinsky, with the composer contributing only by playing musical examples on the piano. At times Shostakovich was forced into making public pronouncements but these may not give a true picture as he was speaking under duress. His constant advice was to discover its meaning by listening to the music. The contrast between Symphony No. 4 and Symphony No. 5 is very marked. The earlier work, which he considered too dangerous to perform in 1936, owes much to Mahler in its massive orchestration for 20 woodwind and 17 brass. The symphony is divided into three movements, but the last welds a Mahlerian slow march to a fast finale. Symphony No. 5 reverts to the traditional four-movement structure of the classical symphony, placing the scherzo second. The orchestration is also more modest than the fourth, with only 11 woodwind and 10 brass instruments. It has remained his most popular symphony. The plan of the symphony The expected plan of a classical symphony is of four movements, with a minuet or scherzo and a slow movement placed between two quick movements. Commonly, all movements are in the tonic key except for the slow movement, which uses the darker subdominant key. The four movements of Shostakovich s symphony outline a D major triad (D A F# D). All four movements are in the minor mode, but the insistence on optimism in approved Soviet works made a move to the major key essential in the finale. In the event, it turns to D major for less than two minutes at the end. The preponderance of the minor adds to the solemnity of the symphony, and this is increased by a frequent tendency to flatten the supertonic (the second note of the scale), so that Eb is a feature of the D minor first subject, Bb is found in bar 7 of the A minor scherzo, and G appears as early as bar 5 of the third movement, in F# minor. The first three movements have very evident signposts to their structure, no doubt to make the work as approachable as possible. The finale reaches its audience by other means, as will be explained. First movement Exposition The introduction (from the beginning to fig. 1) announces a spars e and angry theme, worked into an angular canon. The key of D minor is established by the early appearance of Bb and C# but there is no key signature, and the music quickly demonstrates a tendency The first movement is described in its order of events. You may need this style for a question asking for a programme note or an account of part of the symphony. Other writing styles are demonstrated later in the analysis. Key terms Examiner s tip Canon: a musical form in which a leading melody is copied exactly by a second, beginning several beats later. 155

13 A2 Unit 4 Music in context Moderato f f a to slip from key to key, creating an unsettling effect. Abrupt double-dotted rhythms are a distinctive feature, but these soften into single-dotted patterns to form a background for the first subject. Two features of this opening, indicated here as a and b, will be developed later. The first subject melody (introduced at fig. 1) is a thread of sound for the first violins, already including b and introducing a further rhythm c. The melody is curiously rootless, so that the bass can slip up a semitone almost unnoticed, again emphasising the flattened supertonic of the key. After fig. 2 the melody melts away and the opening motifs reassert themselves. At fig. 3 the melody continues, constantly creating new rhythmic ideas which are often free of the accentuation of the bar line. b dim. dim. p p cresc. c b f p espress. The scoring of this section is light violins and violas only, with some flute highlights. The climax just before fig. 5 is achieved by high register and intensity rather than by massed numbers. The melody collapses rather than ends. The beginning of the transition section (two bars after fig. 5) is marked by the first significant entry of woodwind, in which a rising oboe and falling bassoon mirror one another. The passage begins in D minor but moves through a bright moment of C major after fig. 7 to reach Eb minor for the second subject. This section combines the introduction theme contrapuntally with the first subject s continuation, originally heard two bars after fig. 3. It uses b and c in several guises, such as the horns commanding call immediately before the second subject enters at fig. 9. The second subject in a sonata form movement is commonly more lyrical than the first. Here it takes the form of a wide-ranging melody for first violins, and the contrast is acute after the drama and intensity earlier in the movement. 156

14 Chapter 12 Set works: Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 in D minor The gentle throb of the accompaniment is something of a fingerprint of Shostakovich in later works, although it can also turn into something obsessive and menacing. The key is also a surprise Eb minor is very remote from the D minor of the opening, but it provides another example of a key which shifts by a tone or a semitone. The expected major key would have been F, but there is a richness and warmth about this choice of key which provides one of the few tranquil moments in the whole symphony. The melody dies away towards fig. 12 and is repeated in a shorter form by violas with a new accompanying motif of quavers rising a third and falling back. There is no hint at this stage that this motif will shortly become the driving force of the development section. This motif is spun out into reflective melody for the flute and clarinet, during which the climax idea first heard just before fig. 5 makes another appearance. A further reminder of the second subject leads into the development, where the mood changes abruptly. Development The development section begins at the upbeat to fig. 17. It returns to the intensity of the opening and develops the exposition themes to explosive effect, often transforming their character completely. The main stages in this process are: There is persistent and urgent use of the quaver motif, defined further by the first entry of the piano. The first subject melody from fig. 1 appears threateningly in low horns, joined in canon by trumpets at fig. 18. The quaver motif climbs through the orchestra while the woodwind declaim the first-subject melody followed by themes from the transition the oboe and bassoon lines from fig. 5 and the dotted rhythm pattern c. Tension increases to fig. 22. The tempo has accelerated to Allegro non troppo at fig. 22. It is hard to realise that the leaping phrases that begin at this point had their origin in the peaceful second subject. Transition themes remain powerful, often announced in fortissimo octaves by the strings, and the jagged rhythm a also returns. Four bars after fig. 25 the first-subject melody is hammered out in canon between woodwind and low strings. The tempo continues to increase. At fig. 27 the first subject becomes a burlesque march, as if Shostakovich is caricaturing the triumphal celebrations of the Soviet regime. Timpani and tuba play an ostinato on F and C, stubbornly repeating these notes whether or not they have anything to do with the melody. The march theme, given to three trumpets and later to woodwind as well, is constructed from the first subject melody and from c, further brutalised by the rhythms of side drum and later xylophone. Two bars after fig. 30 the wide intervals of a in augmentation are added by low strings, trombones and tuba and the bass notes force the key centre back to D. The tempo is still increasing to fig. 32. The high point of the development arrives at fig. 32, where a frantic version of a is heard in canon between low and high woodwind and strings while heavy brass and double basses insist on the second subject, also in canon. Key terms Ostinato: a short idea or phrase which is repeated persistently. Recapitulation Fig. 32 could be seen as the moment of recapitulation but it is perhaps preferable to regard the recapitulation as beginning at fig. 36, the point 157

15 A2 Unit 4 Music in context to which the long build of the development has eventually been leading. The power is all focused in the orchestra s massive octave statement at the Largamente. The recapitulation is very compressed, as if there is little more to say. The overwhelmingly forceful statement beginning at fig. 36 is parallel to the exposition melody, but not at the original pitch. It takes two forceful cadence patterns insisting on D minor to compel the melody to adopt its original key, which is reached at fig. 37. Ideas from the exposition have been transformed and contorted by this stage. The pulsating rhythm which accompanied the second subject returns as a hammering figure, and it is accompanied by motif a inverted. The transformation of the second subject has been more positive. The mode is now major instead of minor, and the key centre is D, as might be expected. The violin melody has become a gentle duet for flute and horn, setting an exposed challenge for the first horn player. A transition theme is recalled in the bar after fig. 41, and the repeat of the melody is again accompanied as before by the quaver motif. This too has been inverted: the melody is now in the bassoon and the answering parts are delicately scored for oboe and clarinet solos. Coda A short coda begins at fig.. Even here the music has not reached a full resolution. The brief reminder of the first subject melody is inverted and many of its intervals have contracted from tones to semitones. Its accompanying pattern begins with an E in the bass and only drops to D after fig. 45. After the force and bluster of the movement the ending is magically quiet. Strings and horns are muted, the transition melody is sketched in by a solo violin and the celesta adds a silvery touch at the close. Examiner s tip This movement is described according to the musical elements indicated in the specification. Some questions may ask for one or more of these elements to be discussed and you should be able to look at each movement under these headings. Second movement Form The scherzo is a common symphonic form from Beethoven onwards. It developed from the minuet and trio and is a triple-time movement in dance style, often with a humorous character. The main scherzo material usually alternates with a lighter section known as a trio in a ternary pattern (ABA) or in a longer pattern such as ABABA. In classical times the minuet and trio are each in binary form, creating a complex pattern of repeats. Here the repeats are written out because they are orchestrated differently on each appearance. The pattern of the second movement is: Fig. 48 to 53 First half of scherzo. This has an internal ABA pattern. B begins at fig. 49 and the repeat of A is concealed in the bass line at fig. 51. Fig. 53 to 55 Second half of scherzo. Fig. 55 to 57 Second half of scherzo repeated. Fig. 57 to 59 First half of trio. Fig. 59 to 61 First half of trio repeated. Fig. 61 to 63 Second half of trio. Fig. 63 to 65 Second half of trio repeated. Fig. 65 to bars Repeat of entire scherzo (Fig. 48 to 57). Fig bars to end Coda, suggesting a further repeat of the trio. Harmony Texture is often sparse in this movement, and the harmony arises from the contrapuntal direction of the lines. Chord movement is often by a 158

16 Chapter 12 Set works: Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 in D minor descending stepwise sequence rather than by classical chord progressions where the chord roots often move by fourths and fifths. In places there are distinct perfect cadences to establish a new key, such as the move to A major in the trio (3 bars after fig. 58). More often the chord sequence is driven by descending bass patterns. Examples can be found two bars before fig. 49, four bars after fig. 53 and three bars before fig. 54. The trio uses a very limited selection of chords, and sounds almost like a musical box confined by its mechanism to a few bass notes. Many passages of this movement avoid harmony by using a single line or octave texture. Instrumentation Shostakovich was a renowned orchestrator. The following points illustrate how carefully the composer has used his forces in this movement. The sections of the orchestra have very distinct roles and changes of orchestral colour help to mark the main sections of the structure. The ABA pattern of Fig. 48 to 53 uses strings for the A sections and woodwind for the B section. The overall sound is weighty and he omits the bright sounds of celesta, piano and bells. The Eb clarinet has an important role, taking the melody at fig. 49 and adding a high, penetrating sound. Horns have an impressive theme at fig. 54, repeated at fig. 56. When this returns at fig. 70 in the awkward key of F# major the trumpets take over, but the theme returns to horns at fig. 72 when F major is restored. The trio is very lightly scored for solo violin, pizzicato cellos and harp, with waltz-like glissandos in the violin part. When this section is repeated a flute takes over the solo, and the glissandos are subtly supplied by the harp (fig. 60). The reprise of the scherzo at fig. 65 exchanges the roles of strings and wind. Originally the Eb clarinet melody was decorated by trills and these cannot be played on pizzicato strings, but they are discreetly added by the piccolo (Fig bar). Dark colours can also be found, such as in the unison theme for low woodwind at fig. 62. Melody The opening melody, played by cellos and double basses, is typical of a heavy-footed type of scherzo in the Germanic tradition. Allegretto ff Examples can be found in Beethoven and also in Mahler, whose music was an important source for Shostakovich. The melodies of the scherzo transfer easily from key to key by sequential movement. There is a moment of grandeur in the horn melody at fig. 56. It has two balanced phrases but no real conclusion, tailing off into the following section without resolution. 159